Article: Men's Umbrellas: How to Choose One for Every Day
Men's Umbrellas: How to Choose One for Every Day
A man's umbrella is carried far more often than it is opened. It hangs over the arm on the way to the station, waits in the stand at the office and travels to dinner on evenings when the forecast is uncertain. For that reason, choosing one is as much a question of how it looks and feels in the hand as of how it performs in the rain.
This guide looks at the practical choices: full-length or telescopic, the length and handle that suit everyday carry, and the colours that sit best with tailoring and outerwear. Our guide to British umbrellas covers how a traditional umbrella is made; here the focus is on choosing one to carry every day.
Full-Length or Telescopic
The first decision is how the umbrella will be carried. A full-length umbrella is the traditional choice for a man who walks to work, wears a coat and tie, or simply prefers an umbrella that is carried rather than packed away. It offers more cover, and when furled it reads as part of the outfit rather than an afterthought.
A telescopic umbrella suits a different day: one spent travelling, moving between meetings, or carrying a bag or briefcase rather than a free hand. The Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella folds to 45 cm, opens automatically and has a canopy 102 cm across. Many men find that one of each covers every occasion: a full-length umbrella for the city and a telescopic one for the bag.
Length and Proportion
A full-length umbrella should be long enough to carry comfortably at the side and to hang neatly over the forearm, without trailing on the ground. The Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella is about 91 cm long and weighs about 0.5 kg, with a canopy 106 cm across, which gives generous cover for one person and a coat.
Proportion matters too. A slender, neatly furled canopy looks at home beside a tailored overcoat, while a bulky, loosely rolled one does not. Furling an umbrella properly once it is dry keeps its line, and our guide to caring for a wooden umbrella explains how.
The Handle
For a man's umbrella, the curved crook handle remains the most practical shape. It hangs over the arm, the back of a chair or the edge of a table, leaving both hands free, and it sits comfortably in the hand when the umbrella is open.
There are two traditional ways of making one. On the Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella, the handle, made in Germany, is fitted to a shaft of solid English beechwood from sustainable forests. On the Bucklesbury London Umbrella, the handle and shaft are one continuous length of English chestnut, with no joint between them, which is the most traditional way an umbrella can be made.
Colour and Tailoring
Black is the most versatile colour for a man's umbrella. It sits equally well with a charcoal suit, a navy overcoat, a tweed jacket or a waxed coat at the weekend, and it never competes with the rest of an outfit. If you carry only one umbrella, black is the safest choice.
Navy is the natural alternative. The Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella in Navy Blue pairs well with grey and navy tailoring and with camel coats, while the Bucklesbury London Umbrella in French Navy brings the same colour to a handle and shaft cut from a single length of chestnut. Green and burgundy are equally traditional choices for country clothing and for a man who prefers a little more character. The design appeals to anyone who values its design and craftsmanship, whatever they wear.
An Umbrella for Every Day
An everyday umbrella should be easy to live with. A few habits keep it looking its best:
- Open it pointing downwards, then lift it above your head.
- Leave it open to dry after use, so that the fabric can breathe.
- Never put it away wet or creased.
- Keep it away from radiators, which can cause a wooden crook handle to lose its shape.
- Furl it neatly once dry, and carry it rather than leaning on it: it is not designed to be used as a walking stick.
Full care notes are on our Umbrella Care page.
Made in London
Every Bucklesbury umbrella is constructed by hand in London, in small batches, using traditional techniques, in a workshop with umbrella-making heritage dating back to 1805. Each is individually finished by a craftsman, Rain Tested In England™, and dispatched in a cotton cover and a Bucklesbury presentation box, which also makes it a fitting gift for a husband, father or friend.
Whether you choose the Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella in black or navy, the Bucklesbury London Umbrella in a single length of English chestnut, or the Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella for the bag, the aim is the same: an umbrella you are glad to carry every day, for many years.
